George Washington VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 31 Oct 1852 in Scott Co, IL. He died on 28 Dec 1925 in Scott Co, IL. He was buried in Diamond Cem, Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL. He married Anna Louise VANNIER on 27 Mar 1877 in Morgan Co, IL.

In a family history it states that George "has always taken a prominent part in modern enterprises in his community, incidentally accumulating a large tract of land. He has always possessed the Conrod characteristic of taking it 'a foot' as the saying is, when asked to ride, he replies, 'Oh, no, I'll walk, you see, I'm in a hurry."

George inherited his father's land and kept the tracts intact for the next generations. These were rented out to tenant farmers and he also owned other businesses as well. He was a very wealthy man as a result of his endeavors.

Residences & events:

1880 Scott Co, IL. At census time he apparently was a newly-wed, having no children listed. There was a Thomas Day, a 21 yr old farmer and probably his hired hand, living there and next door were his in-laws. Two doors down the road were the Brockhouse family who would one day become his son's in-laws.

In an article for the Centennial of Bluffs, the buildings of downtown area were described: "The site eventually became the VanGundy block building for Andre & Andre Furniture Store with an upstairs room for the two telephone companies combined by George VanGundy, father of Ray (actually Roy), into one switchboard with 24 hour service. Prior to that switchboard service ended at 10 p.m. The plugs were pulled and all gossip stopped, except on the party lines which had as many as 25 patrons with different bell combinations. Example: two longs and a short; 1 long, 2 shorts; and as many as four shorts plus and plus. Each customer had a cardboard with names in alphabetical sequence and opposite that the length of their ting-a-lings. The cardboard was owner designed and would contain the special calls of friends and neighbors of the full line list if one wanted to listen in on all tingles. If too many receivers were raised when you called a party you might have to yell: 'Will half of you people please hang up! My dry cell batteries are not strong enough to get Mary. She's probably out on the porch.' "

1923 Pike Co, IL. George bought a telephone company, The Home Telephone Co, against the advice of his banker friend, for $8900. Although he wrote the check for the full amount, he was actually short of ready cash and borrowed $8000, using the old homestead as collateral. The company soon caused other trouble for him in the form of lawsuits. At the time of purchase, he told the 3 acquired telephone operators their wages would start when the lines were operational but they sued for immediate wages. The outcome of the suit is unknown.

10/28/1923 George was shot in the head by an unknown assailant while sitting in his living room. He was home alone and thought the radio he was listening to sparked and exploded, not knowing he had been shot until he felt blood on his head. When his efforts to stop the bleeding were unsuccessful he went to bed and called his son, who was at his girlfriend's house.

There was an extensive investigation into the incident but no one was ever charged by the police. Son, Roy, suspected as the heir apparent, hired the Pinkerton Detective Agency to complete a full investigation as well, but no there was no evidence linking him to the crime. Although several people were suspected, authorities finally surmised that it could have been anyone. Among the suspects were a tenant farmer, a strong contender; he husband of one of the disgruntled telephone operators who had the suit against him; and the jealous husband of a lady in another town that George visited regularly, supposedly on business. George's sister, Margaret, said he told her, while still in the hospital, he knew it was the telephone operator's husband.

1/1924 George sold the telephone company to Messrs. Domke and Tucker of Jacksonville, IL.

Great grandson, Eric Van Gundy, the only living relative in the area in 1993, told of finding silver and other valuables in the brick walls of the old family home when it was razed. They had apparently been hidden as a safeguard against theft and forgotten.

The cause of death was pneumonia but some relatives thought he died
from complications resulting from an earlier gunshot wound to the
head.

Anna Louise VANNIER was born on 18 Jun 1853 in IL. She died on 24 Sep 1922. She was buried in Diamond Cem, Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL. She married George Washington VAN GUNDY on 27 Mar 1877 in Morgan Co, IL.

Anna was a sister to Detrick, who married her sister-in-law, Ada
Francis Van Gundy, i.e. brother and sister married sister and brother.

Anna died without a will and her husband, George, was appointed
administrator of his estate. All her assets went to son, Roy, after
George refused his share, making Roy wealthier than his father.

John TEWKSBURY was born on 1 Oct 1830. He died on 18 Nov 1910/1919. He married Margaret "Maggie" VAN GUNDY on 17 Jan 1883 in Morgan Co, IL.

In a family history, it states: "John, who for years was a resident
of Bluffs, Illinois, having taken an active part in the Civil war and
became a Captain and later was proprieter of a hotel in Bluffs."

Margaret "Maggie" VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 19 Dec 1856 in IL. She died on 20 Jul. She married John TEWKSBURY on 17 Jan 1883 in Morgan Co, IL.

Richard Detrick VANNIER was born on 1 Dec 1858 in Scott Co, IL, near Neelyville. He died on 10 Sep 1925 in Madison, SD. He was buried in Fairview Cem, Neelyville, Scott Co, IL. He married Ada Frances VAN GUNDY on 27 Oct 1881 in Scott Co, IL, by Arch J Edward, MG.
Richard resided.

Richard was a brother to Anna Louise, who married his brother-in-law,
George Van Gundy, i.e. brother and sister married sister and brother.

On 1/18/1875 John Van Gundy sold 289 acres to a Herman Vannier. The
Vannier family passed this same land to descendants of John's brother,
Adam, whose later generations still owned it in 1996.

Detrick was described in his obituary: "Mr. Vannier was of a cheerful
disposition and has held several positions of trust, given him by the
people of his community. He was always willing to donate his services
and money to such institutions for the betterment of humanity."

He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, first in
Neelyville, then Chapin, IL.

Richard died of injuries received in an auto accident about 2 wks
before. His obituary described his fatality: "The death certificate
gives cause of death as symbolism, after a duration of eight minutes
which is said to mean that a particle of marrow from the broken bone
in the leg found its way into the blood vessels and was carried to the
brain, with practically the same result as a clot on the brain."

Details of the accident were also included: He and a friend were
touring the country visiting various friends and relatives, after
having seen son, Harry, at Bloomington, IL, and a daughter (Ida
Burrus) at Peoria. They "had arrived within fourteen miles of their
destination, and were traveling over a newly graveled road when they
were met by four men traveling at a high rate of speed in a Hudson
car. Mr. Bruno, who was driving, was unable to turn out quickly
because his wheels were in a rut and the car crashed into them,
wrecking their car and throwing Mr. Vannier and Mr. Bruno into a ditch
alongside the road. The four men in the car sped onward without
sopping to ascertain the extent of their injuries. Mr. Vannier and
Mr. Bruno were both severely injured, and were later helped from the
ditch by a young lady who happened along, and who also secured
assistance and had the injured men taken to the hospital for
treatment, where Mr. Bruno recovered rapidly."

Two of Richard's children, Ida and Albert, were at his side when he
died.

Funeral services were held at the family residence at 2 PM on a Monday
afternoon and were conducted by Rev LaVerne Barkley. A Vera McCaleb
was among the singers.

Ada Frances VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 6 Jan 1860 in IL. She died on 2 May 1924. She married Richard Detrick VANNIER on 27 Oct 1881 in Scott Co, IL, by Arch J Edward, MG.

Charles Earl VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 9 Nov 1883/1885 in Macon Co, IL. He died in Long Beach, CA. He was buried in Angeles Abbey Mausoleum, Compton, CA. He married Bea FAGIN. The marriage ended in divorce.
Charles was born on 9 Nov 1883/1885 in Macon Co, IL. He died after 1957 in Long Beach, CA. He was buried in Angeles Abbey Mausoleum, Compton, CA.

John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 2 Mar 1918 in Macon Co, IL. He died on 5 Apr 1987 in Castro Valley, CA. He married Female (Van Gundy).
John resided shortly after WWII. He resided. He resided.

John was not a true "Junior" but his family called him that anyway, probably because he was the youngest. He did not even like his first name and preferred being called "Van" according to his children.

Children remembered him as being a cold, distant person, not someone to be close to.

Has unlinked child #4859.

Residences & events:

Decatur, Macon Co, IL.

1938 CA. Following the death of his mother he left, ending up in the furthermost point in the US. He never returned and had little, if any, communication with the family after that. Uncle Elmer Van Gundy sent some money as a wedding gift and sister, Helen, visited once in 1961.

John's death was caused by a malignant brain tumor, an affliction that seems to be hereditary in his family, taking a brother and sister as well.

The Social Security death records list his last residence as Hayward, Alameda Co, CA.

Female (Van Gundy).Female married John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY.

They had the following children:

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Bradley Michael "Mike" VAN GUNDY was born on 11 Feb 1943.

Mike has been practically lost to the family, having no communication with his half-brothers and sister, his father's second family, even though they reside in the same area of CA.

John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY [Parents] was born on 2 Mar 1918 in Macon Co, IL. He died on 5 Apr 1987 in Castro Valley, CA. He married Viola LaVerne Bellandi on 26 Nov 1950 in Oakland, CA.
John resided shortly after WWII. He resided. He resided.

John was not a true "Junior" but his family called him that anyway, probably because he was the youngest. He did not even like his first name and preferred being called "Van" according to his children.

Children remembered him as being a cold, distant person, not someone to be close to.

Has unlinked child #4859.

Residences & events:

Decatur, Macon Co, IL.

1938 CA. Following the death of his mother he left, ending up in the furthermost point in the US. He never returned and had little, if any, communication with the family after that. Uncle Elmer Van Gundy sent some money as a wedding gift and sister, Helen, visited once in 1961.

John's death was caused by a malignant brain tumor, an affliction that seems to be hereditary in his family, taking a brother and sister as well.

The Social Security death records list his last residence as Hayward, Alameda Co, CA.

Viola LaVerne Bellandi was born on 2 Oct 1924 in Oakland, CA. She married John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY on 26 Nov 1950 in Oakland, CA.